Health care assistant pay in Edinburgh May 2025

Care workers have the job of supporting and looking after vulnerable people. This includes children, the elderly and adults with disabilities.

They can work in private care homes or in patients’ homes. Sometimes care workers need to stay overnight.

Other names for care workers are:

• Direct care workers
• Carers
• Care assistants
• Healthcare assistants (HCAs)
• Support workers
• Personal carers/ assistants
• Shared lives workers

This type of job involves day-to-day support for patients. This can include:

• Helping with washing, getting dressed and going to the bathroom
• Preparing food and helping with eating
• Household cleaning, laundry and shopping
• Keeping patients company and getting involved with activities
• Making sure patients are taking any medication

This is a physical job, and you may be on your feet a lot.

You may have to work night shifts, on weekends and bank holidays.

Some care worker jobs are entry level and can offer on-the-job training.

If you want to apply for a care worker job, you might need the following:

• Passed background checks
• You may have to have some GCSEs, Level 1 or 2 qualification, or a relevant apprenticeship
• The right to work in the UK

For more information about care workers, read our guide to the best care companies to work for.